Source: REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO
[Saba Sports News] During the 2023 China Badminton Masters held in November, Malaysia’s leading women’s double, Pearly Tan Koong Le and Thinaah Muralitharan, were eliminated in the first round, bringing their journey for the year to a disappointing end. Currently, they are actively preparing for the Super 1000 Series Malaysia Badminton Open, which will take place from January 9 to 14 next year. Recent media reports have surfaced, suggesting that they are facing issues of “internal strife” during competitions, raising concerns about their future participation. Upon reviewing video footage of the China Masters match, it was observed that there was minimal communication between the pair. The latest rankings from the World Badminton Federation place the combination of Chen Kangle and Tina at 12th in the world. If they can maintain their performance, there is a chance for them to qualify for the Paris Olympics next year. In response to the rumors of “internal strife,” Rexy Mainaky, the Malaysian doubles coaching director, downplayed the situation, stating that misunderstandings among partners are normal. He mentioned that the issue has been resolved after communication between the players. As Chen Kangle has been dealing with an injury this year and has had overall subpar condition, he will focus on strengthening his leg muscles and strive for good results in the home tournament.